I've got mixed feelings. I just came back from Italy and looking at those incredible photos I feel I was born again, but at the same time I feel a deep sadness because an amazing human being, who I love very much has just gone to sleep.

Tere Grau, an extraordinary young woman, in spite that she was above 90 years old.

I remember a brief and funny story. I was in my twenties and she was in her sixties... we were travelling by tube in Barcelona and a young couple was in front of us. The girl was literary "devouring" the young man; she caresses him all over his body, with her hands, with her breasts... they were making out deeply. Aunt Tere started whispering me: "Oh my God, that is so embarrassing, so embarrassing". When we get off the tube, she started telling me: "I cannot understand youth during these times, what's the matter with young men today?" I nodded thinking I was understanding what she was trying to tell me, thinking of her as an old lady but I couldn't be more far away from truth!

She added: "Did you realise that in spite of all the caresses the girl was giving him, the young guy never got an erection at all? I simply cannot understand, what is going on with young men today, during my times, men were real!"

When I heard that, I couldn't stop laughing and I did realise that this woman was much more modern than myself.

In all the occasions I had the chance to be with her, she never stopped surprising me, she was a great mother, lover, grandmother, friend... I will always remember her love for life, for her family, for her culture, her wisdom... she is one of the women who has left a deeper mark on me. She was young till the end.

Sometimes when I feel blue, I just have to remember her and a smile appears on my face.

Beautiful Tere, you leave a hole in my heart... but I am sure that finally now you can be with your "Chato", your Miguel Alegre, the great love of you life that now is caressing you for sure.

Monday, July 15, 2013

Michel Rojkind and Victor Legorreta at the RA

This weekend I went twice to the Royal Academy of Arts to the talks of Mexican Architects. The first talk on Saturday was by architect Michel Rojkind.
It was amazing, I liked very much the friendly and social approach to all of his projects, they are quite innovative and he thinks of people. He is an excellent story teller and all the public was captured by his talk. He is a people person, and he reflects that in his architecture... the project that impact me the most was the on-site extension of la Cineteca Nacional.
I loved this place since I was very young and used to live in Satélite; as I am a film lover remember driving every weekend there. Later I was lucky enough to live in Coyoacan so I travelled there by bike. I was very impressed by the fact that Rojkind's project involves the whole area of the Cineteca, he includes the Archives in his plan and leaves the old Cineteca building untouched, giving tribute to the history of this old building. The new project is an amazing building which connects the old one with the new extension and adds a new big green open area for watching movies outside. What I loved the most is that he gets rid of the parking area, something I found brilliant, because it was really a pity that such an amazing place was mostly an ugly parking lot. I admire the courage he had in avoiding the regulations that force you to have certain amount of cars... I think it is time that people in Mexico get used to public transport to arrive to such important centres.

I was really happy to see that such a high quality architecture is taking place in my country.

The second talk, however was not at all inspiring. This talk was by architect Victor Legorreta. Nevertheless I decided to go to the RA again on Sunday because the talk was going to be opened by Richard Rogers, an architect I do admire.
I have to say that I enjoyed just the beginning when he showed works such as the famous Camino Real Hotel in Mexico City, which is in my opinion one of the most beautiful hotels in the world. But then he started showing the rest of his work. Most of them were houses, i.e. villas for really absurd rich people, which show no sensibility at all for the impact those kind of constructions have nowadays in our planet, and even less sensibility to show how these people live in a country like Mexico where most of the population lives in poverty. All the Mexican components that made Barragán Architecture famous worldwide were used in these opulent houses without the minimum taste at all. It is absurd and offensive in my opinion the display of all this extravagance and wealth. And even more offensive that these symbols of Modern Mexican Architecture are used in such bad-taste designs. I was wondering where was all the beauty and sobriety of the hotel Camino Real left? All these new buildings were "pastiches", they were of course too showy but the worse thing is that they were so tacky as well!
I wanted to stay for the question time... but then he started showing the things he has done in Qatar and the display of bad taste came to a peak... so we have to leave and enjoy the Sun and see the beauty of the work of El Anatsui, which is covering the facade of the RA for the Summer Exhibition.

Then and Now. Opening on Thursday 22.11.2012

THEN AND NOW’ is an exhibition celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Free Painters and Sculptors (FPS) curated by Gabriel Parfitt and Charlotte Williams.

’Then and Now’ pays tribute to the diversity of the eclectic yet coherent group of artists from one of the capital’s longest established artist organisations.

The exhibition holds true to the founding principles of FPS - artists who are free from the constraints of a particular art classification, style or movement.

’Then and Now’ will feature FPS artists from the past six decades, including founding member and renowned sculptor Roy Rasmussen. Newer members also include contemporary landscape painter Rob Perry RBSA and urban artist PIKY. This show will be an opportunity to purchase affordable work from established artists, as well as exciting up-and-coming members. It will also give a fascinating insight into the history of FPS since 1952.

The Private View (22th November) will be an opportunity to meet FPS members from the last 60 years and to enjoy music from award winning singer-songwriter and Queen of the Underground, Hadar Manor (www.hadar.co.uk).

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Pics from Pall Mall Vernissage

Friday, November 11, 2011

Free Painters and Sculptors Winter show 2011Conflict and ResolutionInternational terrorism, the global banking crisis, London riots, travelling on thetube, a hair in your food, running out of toothpaste, toe nails in the bath,….Conflict and resolution is evident in the severe to the mundane; the macro tothe micro; the serious to the trivial.Conflict and resolution also represents the artist’s creative process – the mind ina state of flux, inhabited by the conflict of subject, colour and contrast leadingultimately to the resolution of the finished work.November’s show 'Conflict and Resolution' brings together the best of the longestablished art group – Free Painters and Sculptors – and demonstrates theireclectic style in interpreting this unsettling theme.About FPSFPS is an eclectic group of painters, printmakers and sculptors whose worksrange from the traditional and delicate to the bold and contemporary. All embodythe ethos of the group’s founding principle – namely to be free from theconstraints of populist art movements and fashions.The group was established in 1952 and was originally associated with the ICA(Institute of Contemporary Arts). The founding members featured many highprofile and influential artists, including Henry Moore.During the fifties and sixties it played a significant part in the establishment ofabstract art, the first of a number of post war movements that freed artists fromthe orthodoxy of rigid ideals, and became a forerunner of the currentpostmodern ideals of free expression.‘Conflict and Resolution’ marks the penultimate show for FPS before its 60thanniversary in 2012.When20–26 November 2011 | Preview 24 November 2011, 7pmWhereLa Galleria30 Royal Opera Arcade | Pall Mall | London SW1Y 4UYFeaturing artistsCos Ahmet | Dijana Bekvalac | Lorenzo Belenguer | Simon Burder | David Davies| Caroline Falkland | Malcolm Franklin | Rosina Flower | Odette Farrel | KasiaKaldowski | Mariusz Kaldowski | Gabriel Parfitt | John Parfitt | John Mackenzie |Pete Murry | Piky | Robert Perry | Roy Rasmussen | James Reynolds | BruniSchling | Ines Szamrey | Kate Wilson |